The Kinds of Discussions, Debates, and Inquiries that Take Place at the University

The Kinds of Discussions, Debates, and Inquiries that Take Place at the University

An important aspect of Notre Dame’s aspiration to be a distinctively Catholic, preeminent research university is ensuring that its culture of inquiry is imbued with the lived experience of present-day Catholicism. The faculty is one of the most important resources in this endeavor. Ex corde Ecclesiae says that “…being both a University and Catholic, it must be both a community of scholars representing various branches of human knowledge, and an academic institution in which Catholicism is vitally present and operative.” To reach this goal, the University of Notre Dame seeks to attract and retain greater numbers of junior and senior Catholic scholars, scientists, and artists to research, create, and teach, because it recognizes that, according to Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., “the faculty is the core of every university’s academic community, sustaining and directing the intellectual dialogue that occurs within this community.”

Ex corde Ecclesiae also defines a Catholic university as a “privileged place for a fruitful dialogue between the Gospel and culture.” Therefore, Notre Dame insists “faculty members who are not Catholic are indispensable to the life and success of Notre Dame—in promoting scholarship, in building community, in provoking debate, in pushing for excellence, in ensuring diversity of perspectives. Non–Catholic faculty do exceptional work in teaching, research, and administration. They make us a better university. They also make us a better Catholic university, for they enrich our understanding of God, who is all inclusive, and our conversations about faith,” says Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. Notre Dame believes that in order to engage all of human culture and experience, we must have seekers of truth who hold a variety of beliefs and opinions in our community.

The University of Notre Dame’s leadership recognizes that a critical aspect of its Catholic mission is the ongoing effort to recruit and retain a predominant number of Catholic faculty members.

Notre Dame lives out its mission in its proclamation of faith, its culture and traditions, and its inclusive community. Each employee contributes to the University’s ability to carry out its Catholic mission, and Notre Dame also works to foster both personal and professional growth in its employees.

Thus, the University is committed to fostering a principled workforce who understands Notre Dame’s Catholic character and upholds the following core values: